Building a National Operating System Iran’s Experience in Linux

1. Building a National Operating SystemIran’s Experience in Linux Mohammad Khansari, Director of Iran National Linux Project Advanced Information and Communication Technology Center of Sharif University, Iran Khansari@aictc.com UNCTAD FOSS Expert Meeting Sept. 22- 24, 2004

2. How the project was started? • Feb. 2001: The feasibility study of localization of the Linux at ICT research center of Sharif University was started • May. 2001: The proposal for “Linux localization project” was submitted • Some demos to show the strength of Linux against other alternatives such as Windows was prepared • Meetings with Government officials were held • Free software?= free of charge software • After 2 years of hard work on Feb. 2003 the project was started • May 2003: A 3 years Master Plan (management and executive plan) was prepared

3. Why the government was convinced? • National Security • Software Independence • Open Source: ease of localization • IPR and WTO issues • Long term financial benefit • Promoting local software industry

4. Goals of the project • Providing a National OS based on the Linux localization Project Master Plan • Linux localization • Filling the Persian Language gaps in Open Source Softwares • Popular FOSS localization • Promoting the Linux and Open Source softwares in both Server and Client sides

5. Strategies • Getting all the stakeholders involved in the project • Free training for all • Promoting the Linux and Open Source culture among the professionals, users and policy makers

6. Getting all the stakeholders involved • Government role: Funding and leading the Steering Committee • Steering Committee members: • Policy makers in the government • University Professors • Experienced professionals in the field of FOSS • ICT research center at Sharif University (AICTC.com) • Offering technical leadership of the project • Gathering all experts in Linux and Open Source in a technical committee to provide technical consultant • Providing and updating project’s Master Plan

7. Getting all the stakeholders involved • Preparing the project RFPs based on the Master Plan and managing the Tenders Maintaining the Persian Linux Portal: www.farsilinux.org • Integrating and Maintaining the documents and sources of all projects (projects.farsilinux.org) • Establishing Iran Linux User Group • Publishing a monthly newsletter: Horizon of Linux • Private companies: • Carrying out the sub-projects in order to support Persian language in Linux and Open Source software

8. The short-term and long-term goals • Long term: A national Persian OS based on Linux • It takes a long time (at least 3 years). • Lack of Persian language support in Linux and Open Source software • Shortage of human resource • Short term: providing the Persian language support in different levels of Linux: from Kernel to GUI • Persian specific library • General Persian support in libraries • Application and GUI level support • But the people and the Government can not wait for three years: A live/installable Linux CD shows the progress of the project and integrate the results

9. Training for all • 120 hours of free Linux training materials (around 2000 ppt slides) • 120 hours of free E-learning Linux courseware • 24 computer based training Linux courses • Linux courses for TV Educational Channel • Financial support for Linux and Open Source books • Financial support for Linux and Open Source projects at the Universities • Iran Linux User Group (ILUG) Seminars and workshops

10. Cultural readiness for Linux and Open Source acceptance • Financial support for migration • Linux and Open Source seminars at universities, schools, departments • TV programs and interviews • Success stories • Promotion of governmental IT staff to use Linux and Open Source software • Starting the promotion of Linux from schools

11. Thank you for your attention. Any question? Contact: Mohammad Khansari Khansari@aictc.com www.aictc.com